Rogue Trooper

[Rogue Trooper]

did you make that up rouge trooper?? is that just tubing yeh? looks great.

have you got it engineered?

ben

It was made up but not by me. I don't trust my welding for critical things like that.

The main cross member is upside down heavy gauge channel. Standard channel is easy to find. The upside down stuff is quite rare. 

The braces are boxsection and the mounting points where it bolts up to the gearbox mounts is heavy gauge flat.

If you mean by 'engineered' was it certified then yes.

[Auda]

Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ

[Warren]

Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ

I think it should be "BUGA" on this forum

Warren

[Rogue Trooper]

Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ

Why is that a problem? Mine was only 750mm and I never had an issue.

[Rogue Trooper]

Just an update on progress. After giving up on the Fairmont dash due to space issues I have started building my own. Had a couple of things to do recently so the van has languished a bit but with the number of shitty days we've had over Xmas I got up a head of steam and have spent a few solid days on the van.

I have fitted two of the main components for the heater system. The blower unit on the left is fixed to the firewall and I have made and inserted through the firewall a new vent unit. It sits quite close to the bonnet in the engine bay and sucks air from the top to try and prevent water being sucked in if driving in the rain. The second part is the heater unit. I cut the floor and welded an insert into it to allow me to get the heater unit lower than I would have been able to otherwise. That is bolted nice and tightly to the firewall as well.

The next thing I did was to seperate the trans shifter off of the engine cover and build a cage. This is now bolted to the floor as well. Mounting it on the engine cover seemed like a good idea at the time but with use and maintenance it proved to be a major pain in the butt. Fixed now. It will also make it easier to incorporate it into the dash structure. You can see the Fairmont steering column all fitted up to the right. It's nice having a bit of adjustment to the steering position now.

Next things to do are to sort out some vents for the windscreen and fit those. Once that is done the hoses will all be made and fitted (I'm not looking forward to that). After that I will build a cross member that will bolt to either side of the van interior and this will form the main structure for bolting the dash structure to as well as creating another solid fixing point for the steering column bracket that is only currently fixed at the firewall.

[John Abbott]

Hi Rogue...You are enbarking on some serious mods there mate! Luv the photos. Cant wait to see what the dash will look like when youve finished....keep the pics comming...cheers..Johnno

[Sundownernz]

Hey Rogue,

Nice work mate and great to see it progressing. Mines back on the road after a year in the garage and the modified interior is almost there. Will post some pics soon.
Hope to catch up and maybe check out your van when we come down the Wellington for the Nationals at Easter.

Keep up the great work.
Garry.

[Rogue Trooper]

Thanks guys. It'll get there one day I'm sure. I'm quite looking forward to seeing the dash finished myself  The weather has all perked up now so I've spending the time around the section. Giving me some time to think about how to go about the next stage.

Looking forward to seeing the show at Easter and you're more than welcome to pop up for a coffee Garry.

[mezzmo]

Hi Rogue - great job - love the pics!! Could you post some pics of your Gull Wing side door set up ie: Hinge system and strut set up - i'd like some idea's on how hard this may be before i make the final decision! Cheers and keep up the great work.

Mezzmo

[hotrod]

Hey Mezzmo
This is the link to busy's site
might answer some of your q's
if not it is a bloody good read!
http://www.munchtech.com/bedford/van11.html